Job 27:1-23

Job's Eighth Speech (concluded)

1-6. Job protests that he is innocent.

Job 27:1 are an enlargement of what Job had previously said (Job 13:16) of his determination not to admit that he was being punished for his sins, since he felt that he was innocent of any great offence. This much is plain, but the rest of the chapter (Job 27:7) is puzzling; inasmuch as the sentiments expressed regarding the fate of the wicked seem opposed to Job's views in the rest of the book when he enlarges on the prosperity of sinners in this life: see e.g. Job 21 and notes. It is therefore commonly considered that Job 27:7 are really a misplaced speech of Zophar's corresponding with the final speeches of Eliphaz and Bildad (Job 22:25), and this view is strongly confirmed by the subject-matter. Job 27:11 are Job's (see intro. to Job 22-31).